The Barack Obama Presidential Centre finally had its grand opening in Chicago this week. A gala attended by A-listers, donors, and political loyalists. The former president himself was there, basking in the glow of his post-White House prestige. But behind the glitter, there is a gnawing question: what exactly is the Obama legacy, and does this centre do anything to crystallise it?
The centre itself is undeniably impressive. A sprawling complex on the South Side designed to be a community hub, not just a museum. Obama’s vision was always about more than just his own story: it was about civic engagement, about inspiring the next generation. And in that sense, the opening was a success. Thousands of people came out, and the festivities were covered wall-to-wall by the networks.
But here is the rub. In the eight years since he left office, Obama’s stock has risen among Democrats, but his actual policy achievements have been eroded. The Affordable Care Act remains, battered but surviving. The Iran nuclear deal is gone. The Trans-Pacific Partnership never happened. His signature executive actions on immigration were overturned. And the political coalition he built? It fractured, culminating in the Trump victory of 2016 and the subsequent struggle for the soul of the party.
Many in the political establishment now treat Obama as an elder statesman, but there is a quiet discontent among progressives. They see the centre as a monument to a centrist era that failed to deliver structural change. Meanwhile, conservatives still brand him as a radical, albeit one who is now relatively quiet in his post-presidency.
Inside the centre, the exhibits are carefully curated. The story of the 2008 campaign is front and centre, a tale of hope and change. But what is missing? Any real reckoning with the failures of his two terms. The drone strikes. The continuation of the war on terror. The bailouts. The housing crisis. The rise of ISIS. These are either glossed over or treated as footnotes. The museum is a celebration, not a history lesson.
And that is the problem for Obama. His legacy is still in play. The centre will cement his role as a transformative figure in American politics, but it will not settle the debate about his actual impact. The gala may have been a moment of unity, but the divisions within the Democratic Party over his legacy are only growing.
For now, though, Chicago has its new landmark. And Obama has his shrine. Whether it stands the test of time as a beacon of progress or a monument to missed opportunities remains to be seen.
